Understanding Sleep Apnea and its Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Sleep apnea is an illness that can cause disturbance in your sleep pattern and force stop your breathing while you are asleep. During this condition, your brain will try to wake you up and have proper breathing which means irregularities in your sleep, which can lead to complication for your health. You might ignore or overlook this condition considering it to be quite common but you just can't get rid of it without proper medication or treatment. This condition is easy to manage especially when proper treatments are provided.

What happens when sleep apnea occurs?

The lack of oxygen invokes a reflex that wakes you up so that you can resume your breathing. While that reflex helps you stay alive, it will also disturb your sleep cycle. This will put stress on your heart that can cause potentially severe consequences.

Excessive daytime sleepiness: The fragmented sleep caused by sleep apnea will make you feel excessively tired throughout the day influencing your ability to perform daily tasks.

Cardiovascular problems: Sleep apnea can cause an increase in the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, etc.

Mental health issues: Sleep apnea causes increase in the risk of depression, anxiety, and mood disorders.

Treatment of Sleep Apnea

1.      CPAP therapy which involves wearing a mask over your nose or both your nose and mouth while sleeping delivers a continuous flow of air, which helps keep your airway open.

2.      Oral appliances are custom-made devices to keep your airway open by repositioning the jaw and tongue.

3.      Lifestyle modifications like maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding alcohol, and sedatives, sleeping on your side, can be beneficial in establishing a regular sleep schedule.

What to expect from ENT Specialist?

Assessment: The best ENT doctor in Milton Keynes will ask you questions about your medical history, sleep patterns, and any symptoms you may be experiencing, such as snoring, gasping for air during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, or morning headaches.

Physical examination: The ENT specialist will conduct a physical examination, focusing on the structures of your nose, throat, and mouth. They may examine the size and shape of your airway, check for nasal blockages or abnormalities, and evaluate your tonsils and adenoids.

Sleep study referral: If the ear nose and throat specialist suspects sleep apnea, they may recommend a sleep study (polysomnography). This is conducted overnight in a sleep center or sometimes at home using portable monitoring devices. It records various physiological parameters during sleep, such as brain activity, oxygen levels, heart rate, and breathing patterns, to diagnose and assess the severity of sleep apnea.

Treatment recommendations: Based on the results, the ENT specialist Milton Keynes will discuss treatment options with you. This may include lifestyle modifications, such as weight.

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